Electrical power source

ABSTRACT

An electric energy source is made by means of a plate capacitor in interposing a set of plasma tubes between the plates. The assembly is subjected to cycles for the charging of the capacitor. These cycles comprise the excitation and the de-excitation of the gas of the plasma tubes. It is shown that the device has an efficiency of more than one.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is an electric energy source. The aim of theinvention is to propose a source of electric energy, i.e. a generator,of exceptional efficiency. The generator is of the type using dischargecapacitors, especially repetitive discharge capacitors. The efficiencydepends on the discharging frequency of the capacitor and on the numberof charging cycles performed. The energy source of the invention isdesigned to be fitted into fixed or moving apparatuses, as the generatoris easily transportable and is also autonomous.

To understand the mode of operation of this invention, a few well-knownprinciples of classical physics need to be recalled. If a metal platecapacitor is charged by means of a voltage source, and if the metalplates are moved away from each other after the capacitor has beendisconnected from its source through a switch, there is an increase involtage at the terminals of the capacitor resulting from the law ofconservation of charge Q=CV.

This operation can be performed symmetrically through the use (as shownin FIG. 1) of an assembly of two capacitors CP1 and CP2. The twocapacitors CP1 and CP2 are plate capacitors. They are series-connectedby means of an electric connection. These capacitors CP1 and CP2 haveexternal plates facing the outside of the assembly, and internal platesfacing the inside of the assembly. The internal plates of the twocapacitors are connected to each other electrically by the electricconnection. The external plates are fixed and are located at a greatdistance from each other when compared with the distance between theinternal plates and the external plates in each capacitor. A switch S1connects the external plates conditionally to a direct-current powersupply HT1.

The internal plates are moveable. When they are removed, after theswitch S1 has been opened, there is an increase in electrostatic energythat is localized in the capacitor formed by the remaining externalelectrodes. The system is therefore an energy multiplier. This increasein energy is given by the work of the observer who performs the maneuverof removing the internal plates. It is known that the law ofconservation of energy is met since the electrostatic forces verifyNewton's third principle. Consequently, the efficiency of the operationcannot exceed 100%. The operation of removing the plates can be donerotationally by means of an electric motor as described in the documentU.S. Pat. No. 4,127,804, by Breaux, published on 28 Nov., 1978. In thisdocument, it is sought to minimize the mechanical work by takingcapacitors in which the position of the internal plate is offset by 90degrees. A scheme of this kind does not totally eliminate the resistantelectrostatic forces and the gain is obtained to the detriment of themultiplication of energy in the capacitors since the capacitance of eachcapacitor at the initial point in time is no longer equal.

In physics, there are two types of capacitors: capacitors of a firsttype, which are capacitors with total influence like the sphericalcapacitor, and capacitors of a second type with partial influence likethe plate capacitor. The document by Hiddink, U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,162,published on 13 Jun. 1978, describes a capacitor of the first type inwhich the internal electrode of the spherical capacitor is replaced by aplasma chamber in order to increase the potential of the externalelectrode. According to the authors of this document, the charge carriedto the surface of the external electrode is small or negligible. Testsbased on this approach have not given the conclusive results that wereproclaimed.

In the invention, to increase efficiency, the structure of the Breauxdocument has been modified by replacing the internal plates by twoplasma chambers bonded to the interior of the external faces of a planecapacitor of the second type. As a consequence, the internal metalplates of the two series-mounted capacitors of FIG. 1 are replaced bychambers containing a gas that can be ionized by applying a highvoltage. As a variant, a single plasma chamber extends from one internalplate to the other, setting up an electric connection at the same time.A second configuration using four plasma chambers can be envisaged. Thesecond configuration simply increases the output energy from the systemby a factor of two.

Further below, we shall how this structure enables a reduction in thework to be furnished in order to charge the external plates and henceincrease the efficiency exceptionally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention therefore is an electric energy sourcecomprising:

-   -   a capacitor with two plates connected to two terminals of the        source,    -   a conduction device interposed between the two plates,        wherein the source comprises:    -   a circuit to make the conduction device conductive or        non-conductive.

For its first charge, the two-plate capacitor may be connected to a DCvoltage source.

An object of the invention is also an electric energy source comprising:

-   -   a capacitor with at least two metal plates facing each other and        connected to two terminals of the source, and    -   means to charge this capacitor at high voltage,        wherein the means to charge this metal plate capacitor at high        voltage comprise:    -   a set of plasma plates positioned so as to be facing the metal        plates,    -   these plasma plates being connected to a switch or selector        switch circuit to periodically form a set of at least two        series-connected capacitors each comprising a metal plate and a        plasma plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be understood more clearly from the followingdescription and the accompanying figures. These figures are given purelyby way of an indication and in no way restrict the scope of theinvention. Of these figures:

FIG. 1 which has already been commented upon describes a prior artelectric generator;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an energy source according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a practical assembly enabling a real implementation of theinvention in the context of a simple example of use;

FIG. 4 are timing diagrams showing the succession of the commandsapplied to the different elements of the source of the invention and theresults measured;

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the source of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diametrical sectional views of alternative cylindricalembodiments of the plasma plate capacitors;

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing the measured reality of thephenomenon of the invention.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows an electric energy source according to the invention. Thissource has a capacitor 1 with two metal plates 2 and 3, made of aluminumfor example. The two plates 2 and 3 are connected to two terminals,respectively 4 and 5, of the source. The two plates are furthermorenormally electrically biased by a direct-current power supply 6connected to the terminals 4 and 5. In one example, the plates 2 and 3are at a distance of 30 cm from each other and the biased voltage givenby the direct-current power supply 6 is 1000 volts. The electric fieldprevailing in the capacitor is then equal to 3333 volts per meter. Aconduction device 7 is interposed between the two plates 2 and 3. In theexample, the conduction device has a first plasma tube 8 and a secondplasma tube 9. These tubes 8 and 9 are, for example, tubes filled withan inert gas after being vacuumed. For example the gas in the tubes isneon, argon or any other rare gas or mixture of rare gases of this type.The pressure therein is low, for example in the range of 150 Torrs. Thetubes are made of an insulating material, for example glass. The tubeshave electrodes at their end. For example, the tube 8 has electrodes 10and 11 and the tube 9 has electrodes 12 and 13. The electrodes emergefrom the tubes and enable the gases contained in the tubes to besubjected to voltage differences.

To this end, the electrodes 11 and 12 are connected together by aconnection 14, while the electrodes 10 and 13 are connected to the twopoles of an electric biasing source 15. To simplify the explanation, itmay be considered that the electric biasing source 15 is a source ofdirect-current voltage 16, connected as required to the electrodes 10and 13 by a switch represented schematically at 17, or by a set ofswitches. The voltage produced by the direct-current voltage source 16is equal for example to 15,000 volts. The direct-current power supply 6is furthermore connected to the plates 2 and 3 by a switch shownschematically at 18.

The invention works as follows. With the switch 17 open, in the absenceof voltage, the gas contained in the chambers 8 and 9 behaves like adielectric medium, namely like an insulator. However, this gas becomes aconductive medium when it is ionized by the application of a highvoltage, produced by the source 16 and applied by means of the switch17. The conduction circuit of the invention is thus formed by the tubes8 and 9 and by the connection 14. The circuit used to make theconduction circuit conductive is thus formed by the source 16 and by theswitch 17.

Once the plasma is created in the chambers, and while the switch 17remains closed, the two external metal electrodes 2 and 3 are charged bythe source 6. In practice, the switch 18 is closed. This charginginduces opposite-sign charges on the interfaces located between theglass wall of the chambers and the plasma. When the voltages applied tothe external electrodes 2 and 3 and to the chambers 8 and 9 are cut offby the opening of the switches 17 and 18, firstly the gases contained inthese chambers become insulating again, and then, secondly, the workthat was performed by external observer in the mechanical withdrawalsystem described here above with reference to the document U.S. Pat. No.4,127,804 is performed. This work is almost free in terms of energycontributed because it is produced by Coulomb forces inside the plasmaat a distance that is in the range of a few Debye lengths λD=69(Te/ne)^(1/2) in meters for a temperature Te in ° K, when Te representsthe electron temperature and ne represents the electron density in theplasma.

Indeed, it is known that the plasma neutralizes a spatial variation ofthe charge in a few Debye lengths. This approach gives a gain inefficiency of the system since the work is done on a very short distancewhereas, for a mechanical system, the work is done on the distancebetween the external plates of the capacitor. It must be noted that itis not possible to contribute energy coming from the generator thatfeeds the plasma since this energy is cut off during the phase of returnfrom the plasma to an insulating medium. The energy balance of thesystem shall be examined further below. It will take account of the factthat energy has to be consumed to create a plasma.

In the case of a plane capacitor with a surface area S comprising pisotropic dielectric blades with a thickness ak and a relativepermittivity ∈_(rk), between its two electrodes, the formula thatexplains the value of capacitance of the capacitor has the followingdefinition:C=∈ ₀ . S/a _(m)

In this expression, ∈₀ is the permittivity of the vacuum and is equal to10⁻⁹/36Π in international system units, and a_(m) represents a meanthickness which has the following expression: $\begin{matrix}{a_{m} = {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{p}\frac{a_{k}}{ɛ\quad{rk}}}} & {{formula}\quad 2}\end{matrix}$

For glass, we have ∈_(r)=4 and for air ∈_(r)=1. It will be assumed thatthe relative permittivity of a non-ionized gas is that of air. Theformula 2 furthermore shows the value of doping the glass with a certainpercentage of barium titanate powder whose relative permittivity is∈_(r)=1800.

The invention achieves the result wherein two series-connectedcapacitors 19 and 20 such as the capacitors CP1 and CP2 in FIG. 1 areobtained. Each capacitor is formed by a plate, 2 or 3, of the capacitor1 and a conductive sheet resulting from the presence of ionized gas in atube, respectively 8 and 9. Each interior electrode of the capacitor ofFIG. 1 is thus replaced by a parallelepiped-shaped chamber with thesurface area S according to the arrangement of FIG. 2. When the plasmais ionized, it becomes a conductive medium that replaces the secondmetal plate of each capacitor. The thickness of the glass of the chamberis a. This thickness forms the distance between the conductive sheetsince the tubes 8 and 9 are placed flat against the plates 2 and 3. Theresult of this is that the capacitance C of each capacitor 19 or 20(assuming that they are built identically) has the following expression:C=∈ ₀.∈_(r) .S/a  formula 3

For ∈_(r)=4, a thickness of the glass a=1 mm and a surface area S=0.1 m2(about 30 cm by 30 cm), a capacitance of C=3.5 nF is obtained for eachcapacitor 19 or 20.

Since there are two series-connected capacitors 19 and 20, the value ofthe equivalent capacitance C1 of these two series-connected capacitors,at an initial instant in which the charging of the global capacitorbegins, is C1=C/2.

It is seen to it that the distance L=pa between the two external metalplates 2 and 3 is a multiple of a. Consequently, when the plasma in eachchamber again becomes an insulating medium, a capacitor C2 formed by thetwo external metal plates and the different dielectric blades now hasthe value:C 2=∈₀ .S/a _(m)  formula 4With the definition a _(m)=4a/∈ _(r)+(p−4)a  formula 5

whence the ratioβ=C 1/C 2=2+(p−4 ).∈_(r)/2  formula 5

It will be noted that β is far greater than 1. By using a method of thiskind, it is possible to obtain a major multiplier factor. Thus, for theexample where p=300, β has the value of 590. In fact, the voltage at theterminals 4 and 5 increases sharply. To avoid overvoltage in the source6, it is planned either to open the switch 18 when the switch 17 isopened, or as a variant or preferably, as a complement, to placeelectric valves, preferably diodes, between the terminals 4 and 5 andthe power supply 6.

Since the charge Q is kept in the transformation, the following equalityis verified:Q=C 1.V 1=C 2.V 2  formula 7

which implies the relationshipV 2=β.V 1  formula 8confirming the rise in voltage.

Thus, the transformation leads to a rise in the initial voltage V1applied to the two series-connected capacitors 19 and 20. It must alsobe noted that the value of the electric field between the electrodes ofthe capacitors does not get modified when the plasma gets converted froma conductive medium to an insulating medium. However, it is noted thatthe electric field is now deployed throughout the space between the twotubes 8 and 9 whereas, previously, a zero electric field was observedtherein. Furthermore, the switching time for changing the medium is veryshort, in the range of few microseconds.

The values of electrostatic energy stored by the capacitors C1 and C2are given by the relationships: $\begin{matrix}{{E1} = {{\frac{1}{2}{{C1}.{V1}^{2}}} = {{\frac{1}{2}{Q^{2}/{C1}}\quad{et}\quad{E2}} = {{\frac{1}{2}{{C2}.{V2}^{2}}} = {\frac{1}{2}{Q^{2}/{C2}}}}}}} & {{formula}\quad 9}\end{matrix}$

This results in a multiplication of the energyE 2=β.E 1  formula 10

It is known that the energy consumed Ec=Q²/C1 by the high-voltage sourceto charge the capacitor C1 is at best twice the electrostatic energygiven in C1. Indeed, the source 6 must have an internal impedance valueadapted to that of the charge constituted by the capacitor C1 so thatthe efficiency of the charge is the optimum. In this case, an optimumefficiency is half. However, the energy at the end of the conversion isgiven by the energy present in the capacitor C2, namely E2=Q²/2.C2. Itfollows that the real gain in energy in the transformation is given bythe formula:γ=E 2/Ec=β/2>>1  formula 11

We may refer now to the pressure in the plasma tube. The pressure P of anon-ionized gas contained in a chamber is given by the law of perfectgases:P=n.k _(b).T  formula 12

where n is the density and T is the temperature of the neutral atomscontained in the chamber. In SI units, the Boltzmann constant k_(b) hasthe value k_(b)=1.38 10⁻²³ J/° K. At ambient temperature T=300° K, theTorr pressure of the gas in the chamber has the following value, giventhat 1 Torr=1.333 10² N/ m²:P=3.1 10⁻²³ n which implies n=3.2 10²² P  formula 13

If α=n_(e)/n is the rate of ionization of the gas, which is a valueranging from 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁷, the electronic density of the ne plasma inunits m⁻in the chamber is given by the relationship:n _(e) =α/n=3,2 10²² α.P  formula 14

For a parallelepiped-shaped chamber with a surface area S and athickness d, the number of electrons contained in the chamber has thefollowing value:N _(e) =S.d.n _(e)  formula 15

For a plane capacitor with a surface area S, the charge Q localized on aplate is given by the formula Q=CV where V is the voltage appliedbetween the two metal plates that form the capacitor. It follows thatthe number of charges present in each plate has the following value:N=Q/q=C.V/q  formula 16

where q=1.6 10⁻¹⁹ Coulomb is the charge in absolute value of theelectron.

In the invention, each of the metal plates located within the externalplates of FIG. 1 constituting two series-connected capacitors isreplaced by a parallelepiped-shaped plasma chamber that simulates aconductive medium when the plasma is ionized. It is therefore necessarythat the number of free electrons Ne in the plasma of each chambershould be greater than the number of charges N needed to charge thecapacitors. It follows that the following inequality has to berectified:N _(e) =S.d.n _(e) >N=C.V/q  formula 17

The value of the capacitance C of each capacitor formed by the externalmetal plates and plasma chamber will be at most equal to:C=∈ ₀.∈_(r) .S/a  formula 18

where a is the thickness of the glass wall of the chamber.

The formulae 14 to 18 make it possible to determine the minimum gaspressure, in Torr, to be set up in the chamber before ionization inorder to obtain sufficient charges from the relationship:P>1.7 10⁻¹⁵∈_(r) V/α.a.d  formula 19

For a=0.1 cm, d=1 cm, ∈_(r)=4 and V=V1/2=500 volts and α=10⁻⁸, apressure of about 136 Torr is obtained.

We shall now examine the characteristics of the generator. If R is theinternal resistance of the high-voltage source 16, the charging timeconstant of the capacitor C1 has a value T1=R.C1. If the capacitor ischarged at the same time as the plasma is ionized, the period of time Tsof operation of the plasma is such that Ts>4T1 to create and maintainthe plasma during the phase in which the capacitor C1 is charged. If Psis the power put through by the voltage source 16, the energy consumedby the source 16 is Es=Ps.Ts enabling the computation of the efficiencyof the system for a charging cycle:α1=E 2/(2E 1+Es)=β.E 1/(2E 1 +Es)  formula 20

The above efficiency may be lower than or greater than one, depending onthe operating time Ts of the system. To obtain efficiency greater thanone, the following condition must be verified:(β−2).E 1>Ps.Ts  formula 21

For a capacitor with a value C1=1.75 nF charged at a voltage of 1 kV,the charging energy for this capacitor has the value E1=C1.V1 ²/2=8.7510⁻⁴ Joule. For a multiplier coefficient γ which is reasonably taken tobe equal to 100, we obtain β=200. It follows that the final energy aftermultiplication is E2=200 E1=0.175 Joules.

The power necessary to ionize the plasma in the chambers is equal to 50W. During the capacitor charging time which, in practice, is less thanone ms, energy equal to Es=0.050 Joule is obtained. This energy is givenby an external source. The efficiency of the entire system is then 338%.If the capacitor is discharged over a period of time of 1 ms, theelectric power given by the system is 175 W.

This theoretical efficiency results from the energy given by thesurrounding magnetic ether. It is set up on the basis of a theoretical βat 200 or even 590. However, owing to the existence of complementaryphenomena such as offset, dielectric leakage, skin and other phenomena,a far smaller real result may appear, for example a resultant β of 10.In this case, the total efficiency may become smaller than one.

The amplification of the energy can then be considerably increased. Todo so, instead of immediately discharging the capacitor C2, a secondcycle is carried out for charging the capacitor C1. This time, it is nolonger necessary to use the voltage source 6 since, when there is nodischarge, the capacitor C2 at the end of the first cycle remainscharged with the voltage V2. It is then sufficient to ignite the plasmachambers 8 and 9 a second time to recreate the capacitor C1 which ischarged with the voltage V2. This results in the new conservation of thecharge.Q ₀ =C 1.V 2=C 2.V 3  formula 22

with the definitionsC=β.C 2 V 3 =βV 2=μ² V 1  formula 23

The energy values of the capacitors at the beginning and end of thesecond cycle are now:E 2=C 1.V 2 ²/2E 3 =C 2.V 3 ²/2  formula 24

The relationships 23 enable the energy to be written at the end of thesecond cycle in the form:E 3 =C 2.V 3 ²/2=β³ C 1.V 1 ²/2=β³ E 1  formula 25

The efficiency of the two cycles therefore has the following value:α₂=β³ E 1/(2E 1+2Ps.Ts)  formula 26

A considerable increase is observed in efficiency. This efficiency willbe all the greater if the following condition is now verified:(β³−2)E 1>2Ps.Ts  formula 27

The computation of efficiency for n cycles can be generalized byapplying a reasoning based on recurrence. The following formula isobtained:α_(n)=β^(2n−1) E 1/(2E 1 +n Ps.Ts)  formula 28

Such a process can soon lead to a voltage at the terminals of C2 thatexceeds the disruptive potential in the air and is in the range of 30000 volts per cm. In this case, either the entire device should beenclosed in a chamber in which there prevails a pressurized insulatinggas, or the available energy should be consumed at the terminals 4 and5. It must be noted that a device such as this can be likened to a Vande Graff electrostatic generator whose mode of operation is purelyelectronic.

FIG. 3 repeats the elements of FIG. 2 in defining, firstly, thestructure of the tubes 8 and 9 and, secondly, a circuit for theconsumption of the energy produced. The tubes 8 and 9 thus take the formof serpentine tubes with meanders such as 21 and 22. These meanders arepreferably contiguous and distributed so that they face surfaces of theplates 2 and 3 so as to cover the totality of these surfaces. In oneexample, each tube 8 or 9 is thus formed by 21 meanders such as 21. Theabove computations have been made on this assumption. Consequently, theplasma panel situated before each plate is formed by a stack of plasmabars, continually connected to each other by a plasma conduit. The twoplasma panels 8 and 9 may be connected together by the electricconnection 14, or by a link 23 made of plasma tube. In this case, thetube extends from the electrode 10 to the electrodes 13, the electrodes11 and 12 being absent. On the contrary, the meanders may be replaced bya succession of tubes in series, each with a set of electrodes, anoutput electrode of a tube being electrically connected to an inputelectrode of a following tube. Any other arrangement of the meanders andof the bars can be envisaged. It is dictated by the voltage used for theionization of the gases and the voltage available at the source 16. Inparticular, all the meanders of the two capacitors can be replaced bytwo sets of tubes in parallel, the two sets being series-connected byconnection such as 14 or 23.

The circuit has a resistive load 24 or a transformer connected by meansof a spark gap 25 to the terminals 4 and 5 of the capacitor. The role ofthe spark gap is twofold. Firstly, it is used as a protective device toprevent overvoltages that could give rise to an electric arc in thespace between the two plates 2 and 3 or between the two tubes 8 and 9. Aspark gap of this kind enables a passage of current when the differencein voltage at the terminals is greater than a calibrated threshold.Furthermore, the spark gap is used as a circuit for the retrieval of theelectrostatic energy stored in the capacitor.

To adjust the apparatus, initially a value β is chosen and a certainnumber of cycles for the ignition and extinction of the plasma tube isprompted, using the switch 17, to raise the voltage of the terminals 4and 5, and to collect the energy accordingly. If β is high, a limitednumber of cycles of the switch 17 is sufficient. If β is low, the numberof cycles may be higher, and the growth may be slower and thereforeeasier to master. The choice of β, the switching frequency of the switch17, and the voltage of the spark gap are thus factors that make itpossible to adapt the power consumed in the load. When this voltagereaches a preset threshold (below a general disruption threshold) thespark gap conducts for a short period of time.

This conduction ensures firstly the consumption of energy produced inthe load 24. This load may be a simple resistor, or a motor, especiallya motor of a vehicle. The alternating character of the conductionproduced by the spark gap may indeed be put to profitable use in orderto replace the load by a transformer linked with an AC electric motor.If need be, a part of the energy produced may be used to recharge abattery used as a source 6 and/or as a source 16, before it is used inthe load.

Furthermore, the end of the conduction takes place preferably before thecharges have been discharged from the plates. In this case, therecharging of the capacitor with plasma tube ignition and extinctioncycles can be reproduced without any need to recharge the plates 2 and 3with the source 6.

A circuit 26 for opening and closing the switch 17 may be a simplevariable frequency AC voltage generator driving a relay 17. Preferably,the circuit 26 will comprise a microprocessor controlled as a functionof need, or as function of a measurement of the power consumed in theload.

FIG. 4 shows timing diagrams of the electric signals encountered in thedevice of the invention. A first diagram I17 has the dates t1 to t14 andfollowing dates at which the switch 1 is closed (odd-parity indexes) andthen opened (even-parity indexes)). The signal represented is forexample the signal produced by the circuit 26. A graph PL shows cases ofionization and de-ionization of the plasma in the tubes 8 and 9 incorrespondence with the same dates. A graph I18 shows the closing andthen the opening of the switch 18 at the dates t1 b and t2 b. The datet1 b is close to or simultaneous with the date t1. For example it isafter (not before) the date t1 by a few microseconds. Thisquasi-simultaneity can be calibrated by means of a microprocessor 26that has its rate set at a given frequency, for example more than oneMHz, and excites the switch 18 after the switch 17. However, thecontrary is possible: only, there would be greater consumption of energywhen starting (which is unfavorable to efficiency). The date t2 b atwhich the switch 18 is opened may be postponed. In this case, the switchcan even remain closed definitively thereafter. With a definitivelyclosed switch 18, the presence of the diodes such as 27 and 28 playingthe role of one-way electric valves in series is indispensable toinsulate the source 6 of the high voltage that will arise between theterminals 4 and 5.

A graph V45 shows the voltage present between the plates 2 and 3. At thedate t1 b, this voltage V45 rises to the value of the voltage given bythe direct current source 6. The build-up is of the exponential typeowing to the values of the resistance of the source 6 and of theelectric connections. At the date t2, the voltage amplificationphenomenon takes place suddenly. In one example, the voltage V45 thusgoes from 1000 volts to 10,000 volts. The rise is immediate and almostwithout any detectable time constant.

FIG. 4 actually shows two types of use: a use with immediate consumptionof energy and a preferred use with gradual amplification. In the formercase, an immediate use of the energy stored in the capacitor C2 isprompted at a date t2 u that is after the date t2 but only to a verysmall extent. For example, in this case, the spark gap 25 is replaced bya switch, and this switch is closed at the instant t2 u. In this case,the voltage of the capacitor C2 drops in the load 24, with a timeconstant T depending on the value of this load and on the value of thecapacitor C2.

As was seen further above, for practical embodiments, it is possiblethat the energy efficiency will not be greater than one. In this case,rather than bringing about an immediate use of the energy, it will bepreferred to implement a gradual amplification. To this end, the switch17 is set at regular pace so that it is alternately closed and opened.Thus, at the date t3, the closing of the switch 17 prompts the ionizingof the tubes as at the date t1. The opening at the date t4 prompts thebuild-up of the voltage as at the date t2. It will be noted that thisphenomenon occurs if a residual voltage is still available in thecapacitor C1, after the discharging of this capacitor. This availabilitycan be ensured naturally by a spark gap 25 which ceases to conduct whenthe voltage at its terminals is below a threshold that is not zero. As avariant, a switch, series-connected between the spark gap 25 and aconnection to a terminal 4 or 5 of this spark gap, can be momentarilyopened. For example, this opening may be controlled by themicroprocessor 26.

In the latter case, at subsequent dates t5 and t6, the ionization andthen the de-ionization of the tubes 8 and 9 prompt an additional voltagerise 29. The voltage obtained can then be sufficient for the storedenergy to be greater than the charging energy for the differentcapacitors and tubes, in such a way that the efficiency becomes greaterthan one. When this very high voltage is available, either the spark gapis activated or a switch enables the load 24 to be connected up. In thiscase, this circuit is subjected to a voltage pulse 30 of a pulsed signalV24. The duration of the voltage pulse 30 is preferably shorter than theduration between a date t2 i (even-parity index) of de-ionization and adate t2 i+1 (odd-parity index) of ionization. Under these conditions,the load 24 is subjected to a pulsed mode whose frequency is equal to:f=1/ (t 2 i−t 2 i+4).  formula 30

This signal V24 can be introduced into a transformer so that it can beused to control any piece of equipment, especially mobile equipment. Ina preferred example, the frequency of the ionization/de-ionizationpulses falls within a range of 1 to 10 kHz. It will further be notedthat the cyclical ratio of the pulses applied to the tubes 8 and 9 doesnot need to be half. All that counts essentially from this point of viewis constituted by the intrinsic qualities of the gas used in the tubesand the nature of these tubes.

In view of the losses by electric leaks, the efficiency may be affectedby the speed with which the operations of ionization/de-ionization arecarried out. It has been shown that the phenomenon definitely occurswhen the switching frequency of the switch 17 is in the range of 1 kHzor greater than 1 kHz.

Hence, the circuit used to make the conduction device conductivecomprises a circuit 26 that needs to be switched over periodicallyduring one or more cycles after the charging of the capacitor.Preferably, in this case, the switched-over voltage generator comprisesthe switch 18 to disconnect the direct current source 16 for thecharging of the capacitor after having charged it for a first time, atleast between each group of periodic selection switching cycles.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in which the tubes 8 and 9 areduplicated so that each of them has a set of tubes 31 and 32 and 33 and34 sandwiching the plates 2 and 3 respectively. It can easily be shownthat this approach enables the output energy to be doubled for equalefficiency.

The optimizing possibilities of the invention lie in the improvement ofthe efficiency of the capacitors through the choice of an appropriatedielectric, the maximizing of the distance L between the two plates 2and 3, and the minimizing of the energy needed to ionize the plasma.This implies the optimizing of the tubes and the pressure of the gaschosen to fill the tubes.

After this first development, in the invention, it was furthermoresought to simplify and perfect the device. A first idea was to make theplasma plates, FIGS. 6 and 7, in the form of a hollow cylindrical plasmaring 35 surrounding a tube forming a hollow plasma mast 36. The cylinder35 and the mast 36, made of glass or ceramic, or preferably comprisingbarium titanate, are respectively each coated on their mutually facingsurfaces with a metallic film 37 and 38. By their surfaces that facethese films, the cylinder 35 and the mast 36 form the plasma plates ofthe invention. In practice, these metal films 37 and 38 may be aluminumfoils directly bonded to the glass of the cylinder 35 or of the mast 36.The chamber formed by the cylinder 35 has two circular electrodes 39 and40, mounted on either side inside the cylinder and located so as to befacing corresponding electrodes 41 and 42 of the mast 36. The films 37and 36 form electric sleeves closed on themselves. As an improvement,the film 37 is surmounted by a conductive roof 43.1, connected to thefilm 37 in the vicinity of the electrode 39, and forming a Faraday cage.At the other end of the assembly, a ring-shaped electrode 40 isconnected to a floor 43.2 which itself also forms a Faraday cage. Thus,not all the electromagnetic phenomena that arise in the conductivechamber 37, 43.1 and 43.2 are influenced by electric phenomena externalto this chamber. In particular, the parasitic capacitances that resultfrom the presence of the films 37 and 38 or the ionize plasma platesfacing any other external conductive device no longer reduce theefficiency of the system. The new solution is of the type described inFIG. 5, in which the plasma plates 32 and 33 would have been removed.

Initially, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the invention was implemented bycharging the plasma plates with a balanced power supply 44, connected byits plus pole 45 and by a switch 46 in series, to the electrode 40. Byits minus pole 47 and a switch 48 in series, it was connected to theelectrode 42, the electrode 39 being furthermore connected to theelectrode 41. The available energy was then available at the output:between connections 5 and 4 connected to the films 37 and 38. Thisenergy was recovered at the rate of the switching operations for theswitches 46 and 48.

The main utility of the structure thus created is that it introduces thevoltage necessary to ionize the plasma plates (in this case the cylinderand the mast). Indeed, this voltage is especially high as the length tobe ionized is great, as was the case with the serpentine tubes. However,this reduction in voltage is compensated for by a greater ionizationcurrent. Furthermore, owing to the rise in voltage, starting from a lowvoltage, the risks of electric disruption are reduced.

It was then realized that, when the switches 46 and 48 were open, theplasma in the cylinder 35 and the mast 36 remained ionized, especiallyat a high voltage in the range of 2000 volts. A second idea then aroseof doing without the electric power supply 49 (the one shown in dashesin FIG. 6) and of replacing it by a switch K1 for the series connectionof the plasma cylinder 35 with the plasma mast 36. This device works asfollows. When the switch K1 is closed, the capacitor is formed by theplasma mast and by the film 38 (very close to the plasma) while anothercapacitor is formed by the cylinder 35 and the film 37 (which too isvery close to the plasma layer). These two capacitors areseries-connected because they are connected together by their electrode39 and 41. They form a capacitor Cmax (corresponding to Cl here above).They are connected by the other terminals to the load. When the switchK1 is open, all that remains is one capacitor Cmin (corresponding to C2here above), the one formed by the films 37 and 38 which are fairlydistant from each other. In this respect, the circuit of FIG. 7 shows avariant of the connection of the switch K1, this switch K1 being nowseries-connected between the electrode 39 and the electrode 41, insteadof being mounted between the electrode 40 and the electrode 42. If needbe, the switch K1 may be duplicated into K1 and K′1, one switch beingmounted between the electrodes 40 and 42 and the other one being mountedbetween the electrodes 39 and 41. The switches K1, and/or K′1, form thedevice for making the system conductive.

In the new approach, everything happens as if the series-connectedcapacitor were to be formed by the external plasma plates and as iftheir facing conductive films were to get converted into a singlecapacitor formed solely by these films. Consequently, the device of theinvention can be analyzed as an arrangement of capacitors organized by aswitch or selector switch device (46, 48, K1, K′1) forming either acapacitor with two metal plates or a series of capacitors, of which atleast two capacitors comprise one of these plasma plates and one ofthese metal plates. Indeed, it is not ruled out that other arrangementsmay be provided, in series or in parallel, of more than two of theseplasma plates and more than two of these two metal plates.

In this respect, an object of the invention is an electric energy sourcecomprising a capacitor with at least two metal plates facing each otherand connected to two terminals of the source, and means to charge thiscapacitor at a high voltage, wherein the means to charge this metalplate capacitor at high voltage comprise a set of plasma platespositioned so as to be facing these metal plates, these plasma platesbeing connected to a switch circuit or selector switch circuit toperiodically form a set of at least two series-connected capacitors eachcomprising a metal plate and a plasma plate.

With this device, two phenomena are observed. These phenomena canfurthermore be explained in a manner similar to the solution of FIG. 2.Firstly, the remanent ionization of the plasma plates is used to chargethe capacitors when they are series-connected. It is then enough toalternately put the switch K1 (and/or K′1) into operation. In this case,the ionization of the gas improves constantly, owing to the increase inthe voltage of the facing film Furthermore, this action creates theenergy source as described here above.

In this experiment, the load connected to the output terminals 4 and 5comprises a probe at very high voltage THT 50 which, in one example, isequal to 1GW. A voltmeter 51 is connected between a measurement outputof this load 50 and a terminal (in this case the terminal 5) of thesource. It can be verified in FIG. 8 that the voltage measured by thevoltmeter 51 undergoes a considerable increase in its voltage, and thuspasses from 500 volts to 1750 volts when the switch K1 is open, and whenthe system goes from Cmax to Cmin. The discharging of Cmin, which takesabout some hundreds of milliseconds, is far slower than the phenomenonof the increase in voltage which is not perceptible and takes less thanone millisecond. The de-excitation of the plasma occurs as soon as theswitches 46 are open.

However, in the case of this improvement, the plasma plates 35 and 36are excited at the outset directly only by the application of highvoltages to the electrodes 40 and 42. They are excited by induction froma high voltage source 52 connected by switches K2 and K3 directly to theoutputs 4 and 5. It can be shown that the power supply voltage 52 which,in one example, is equal to 2000 volts, is half of what was necessarywith the power supply 49 to obtain the same result. With thisimprovement, the need for the power supply 49 is completely done awaywith.

It is observed, if only with the drawing of FIG. 8, that a supplement ofdissipated energy is available. Indeed, the energy dissipated in theprobe 50 directly corresponds to the integral of the surface locatedbeneath the discharge curve 53. This energy which can be dissipatedincludes the area 54 which results only from the opening of the switchK1, without any addition of energy.

To make the system work productively, it is enough to close this switchK1 again before the voltage level has excessively fallen back, forexample, as soon as it has reached 1000 volts, and then open itimmediately so that the voltage goes to 3500 volts (instead of goingfrom 500 to 1750 in the preceding step). In one embodiment, once theplasma has been ignited, and while the switches K2 and K3 remain open,it is enough to switch over the switch K1, with a frequencycorresponding to the desired power throughput rate.

To simplify the process of putting into operation, it is planned toreplace the switches K2 and K3 with diodes 55 and 56 (FIG. 7)respectively. A switch K2 K3 for putting the system into operation canbe maintained. These diodes 55 and 56 serve to maintain an acceptablestarting voltage (2000 volts in the example). A service voltage betweenthe metal films can be defined as the one in which the plasmas getregenerated by the closing of the switch K1. In the example, as soon asthis service voltage becomes greater than 2000 volts, the diodes playtheir role of switch. The system is even simpler. It is not necessary tocommand these switches K2 K3. It will furthermore be noted that it ispreferable to position two switches (or two diodes) in series on eitherside of the power supply to preserve the symmetry. If this is not thecase, there is a risk of failing to implement the invention.

With regard to the value Cmax, and hence the Cmax/Cmin efficiency, itwill be noted that they depend on the ionization of the plasma. Athigher voltage, for example if the power supply 52 is 4000 volts, theionization will be far greater, and the ratio of 3.5 obtained (500/1750)will be modified into a far higher ratio (for example it could be equalto 8) and the voltage available at the probe 50 would then be taken to8×4000 volts, giving 32 000 volts. It is therefore necessary to becareful with the initial voltages, and the selection switchingfrequencies involved.

To resolve a possible problem resulting from these overvoltages whichmight exceed the disruption voltages of the devices, an attenuatorcircuit is provided. The circuit is shown as a load 57 in FIG. 7. Thiscircuit 57 has an inductor 58 series-connected with a capacitive voltagedivider formed by two capacitors 59 and 60. The real load 50 isconnected to the terminals of the capacitor 60, between the terminal 5and the midpoint 61 of the capacitive divider.

Furthermore, it can be the case that the power supply 52 (or 49) isnecessary only for the starting. It could even be imagined that thesource of the invention, when it comes out of the production plant, isgiven a voltage that is already precharged and proper to aninstantaneous throughput rate at request. The basic device thereforedoes not necessarily have this power supply 52 (or 49).

For the regulation of the operation, the switch K1 (and/or K′1) iscontrolled by a circuit 26 producing an alternating signal. The controlsignal produced by the circuit 26 takes account of the need for power.For example, a voltmeter is mounted at the terminals of the load. If thevoltage of the terminals of the voltmeter drops, the circuit 26 providesfor an increase in frequency and the production of greater energy. Ifnot, the frequency must be lowered. The relationship between the voltageand frequency may furthermore not be linear. The circuit 26 preferablyhas a microprogrammed microprocessor that sets up this relationship.

The efficiency of the system can be estimated more precisely byobserving that the charge Q localized on the plate of a capacitor isalso the charge forming the current that flows in the plasma tubes.Consequently, the energy consumed by the voltage Vs source 44 is Es=QVswhile the electrostatic energy for the charging of the capacitors hasthe value E1=QV1/2. The efficiency of the system is therefore:a=bV 1/2(V 1 +Vs)  formula 31

The above formula shows that it is necessary to choose a chargingvoltage of C1 (Cmax) greater than or equal to the operating voltage ofthe plasma tubes to obtain efficiency greater than 1. Consequently, thechoice of an accordion-like plasma tube where the length of the tubes isgreat is not the configuration best suited to obtaining high efficiency.It is therefore more appropriate to choose full plasma panels where thelength of the plasma to be ionized will be equal to the height of theplates shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The cylindrical configurations shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 enable thiscondition to be achieved practically. Furthermore, this configurationmakes it possible to obtain a Faraday cage to isolate the internalelectric field defined between the metal plates of the external electricfield prevailing in the plasma, in order to prevent an undesiredre-ignition of the plasma. It is possible to considerably simplify theconfiguration of FIGS. 6 and 7 by eliminating the supply to the plasmatubes and using the external electric fields to ionize the plasma duringthe charging of the capacitor. In this case, it is enough to place aswitch between the wires that connect the internal and external tubes toproduce the variation of capacitance.

The system for the shaping and retrieval of energy to supply theexternal load comprises a capacitor divider delayed by the presence ofan inductor 58. The RLC system, respectively 61, 58, and 59-60, of thiscapacitive divider is tuned in sub-critical mode in such a way that,during the charging of Cmax and the modification of the capacitance ofCmax to Cmin, the charging current of the capacitor 59-60 will be almostzero.

A physical explanation can be given for the energy gain if it is assumedthat one of the metal plates is connected in certain way to the Earthwhose potential Vp is not zero, contrary to the assertions often made inthe literature on the subject, but amounts to several millions of voltsin relation to the ionosphere. As a consequence, the formula giving theelectrostatic energy of the capacitor coupled to the Earth comprises anadditional term related to the capacitance Cp=700 microfarad proper tothe Earth:Ep=Q ²/2C+Cp(Vp−V/2)²/2  formula 32

When the mutual capacitance C falls, the charge Q=CV being constant, thefirst term in the above equation increases along with the correspondingvoltage V. This implies a reduction of the potential energy of the Earthassociated with the second term in the above formula. The general law ofconservation of energy is therefore met.

1. An electric energy source comprising: a capacitor with at least twometal plates facing each other and connected to two terminals of thesource, and means to charge this capacitor at a high voltage, whereinthe means to charge this metal plate capacitor at high voltage comprise:a set of plasma plates positioned so as to be facing these metal plates,these plasma plates being connected to a switch circuit or selectorswitch circuit to periodically form a set of at least twoseries-connected capacitors each comprising a metal plate and a plasmaplate.
 2. A source according to claim 1, wherein: the plasma platescomprise a hollow cylindrical ring and a hollow tube forming a hollowmast inside the cylindrical ring.
 3. A source according to claim 2,wherein: the metal plates are formed by films placed flat against thering and the mast.
 4. A source according to one of the claims 1 to 3,wherein connections for linking metal plates or plasma plates form aFaraday cage of the source with the plates.
 5. An electric energy sourcecomprising: a capacitor with two plates connected to two terminals ofthe source, a conduction device interposed between the two plates,comprising: a switch circuit or selector switch circuit to make theconduction device conductive or non-conductive. 6- A source according toone of the claims 1 to 4, wherein: the conduction device and/or theplasma plates comprise a gas contained in a chamber, the switch circuitor selector switch circuit to make the device conductive comprises acircuit to excite the gas and convert it into plasma. 7- A sourceaccording to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein: the circuit to excitethe gas comprises a set of electrodes, an electric power supply and acircuit to periodically apply an electrical power supply voltage to theelectrodes. 8- A source according to one of the claims 1 to 6, whereinthe circuit to excite the gases comprises a set of metal plates, anelectric power supply and a circuit to periodically apply a voltage tothe plasma plates by induction. 9- A source according to one of theclaims 6 to 7, wherein the frequency of periodic application is greaterthan or equal to 1 kHz. 10- A source according to one of the claims 1 to8, comprising: a circuit for the charging and a circuit for thedischarging of the plate capacitor, the charging circuit comprises adirect-current electrical power supply insulated from the dischargingcircuit by a one-way electric valve in series, preferably a set ofdiodes placed on either side of the supply. 11- A source according toone of the claims 1 to 9, comprising: a circuit for discharging theplate capacitor, the discharging circuit comprises a spark gap in serieswith a resistive load. 12- A source according to one of the claims 1 to10, wherein the switch circuit or selector switch circuit to make theconduction device conductive or non-conductive comprises a switchedvoltage generator. 13- A source according to claim 11, wherein theswitched voltage generator comprises a circuit to be switched overperiodically during one or more cycles after the capacitor has beencharged. 14- A source according to claim 12, wherein the switchedvoltage generator comprises a circuit to disconnect a continuous sourcefor the charging of the capacitor after having charged said capacitor.15- A source according to one of the claims 12 to 13, wherein theswitched voltage generator is a variable frequency generator. 16- Asource according to claim 14, wherein the variable frequency of thegenerator is adjusted as a function of the value of a resistive loadconnected to the terminals of the source. 17- A source according to oneof the claims 1 to 15, wherein: the conduction circuit comprises glassor ceramic tubes, preferably doped with barium titanate. 18- A sourceaccording to one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein the gas is argon or anyother gas or a mixture of rare gases.